How many people can fit in a chest?

[Alexite Riverpoint]

My character here wants to try and move around slaves and captive creatures, discretely. So my thought came to mind of getting a wagon and chests to hide them in to transport between the locations and to my own temple to Lamashtu.

Of course, I'm terrible at maths so I have no idea of what cubic feet I need to fit a medium creatures and others for the inner in the dark temple. so I'm thinking Medium chest because it's 4 cubic feet or maybe I'm wrong. Would a large chest be better? Not to interested in if the humanoids are comfortable or not really, unless they're willingly wishing to escape.

[VoodistMonk]

Wikipedia states that the average human body is 1.75 cubic feet. So, 2.3 people can fit in a medium chest if it is 4 cubic feet.

This number goes up significantly if you decide that the people do not need their legs wherever they are going.

A mirror of life trapping can carry 15 people in one mirror.

Portable holes can work, also. But you have to open them every 10 minutes to allow the occupants to breathe.

[Alexite Riverpoint]

VoodistMonk wrote:

Wikipedia states that the average human body is 1.75 cubic feet. So, 2.3 people can fit in a medium chest if it is 4 cubic feet.

This number goes up significantly if you decide that the people do not need their legs wherever they are going.

A mirror of life trapping can carry 15 people in one mirror.

Portable holes can work, also. But you have to open them every 10 minutes to allow the occupants to breathe.

The Mirror sounds interesting, however I'm only starting at 3rd level so I don't have anywhere near that kind of cash.

[VoodistMonk]

Chopping off legs is easily affordable at level 3. That's four people per medium chest. Probably won't get much more efficient than that without extradimansional spaces.

[Temperans]

You should look at smuggler's wagons and figure out a good way/size for the slaves/creatures to hide. I believe that you can have some large enough hiding places, not sure however.

Large chests (6 cubic feet) can fit 3.43 people, it does cost 10 gp.

Chopping of legs is a affordable when regenerating limbs becomes affordable. Its hard to put people to work without legs, so its more trouble than its worth.

[Fiendish Warlord]

VoodistMonk wrote:

Portable holes can work, also. But you have to open them every 10 minutes to allow the occupants to breathe.

That's what a bottle of air is for.

[Mysterious Stranger]

You do realize that there is a good chance that most if not all of your captives are going to be dead by the time you get where you are going. Overheating, dehydration and suffocation is going to be pretty common. That is only for short trips, for long trips you have to deal with disease and other problems. Dead slave are usually worthless so you are pretty much throwing your money away. Even the ones that survive are going to be in bad shape and worth almost nothing.

[Dale McCoy Jr]

Depends, how many bones are you willing to break to squeeze more in?

[Temperans]

Well it sounds like this is for crossing check points so barring unplanned stops and long queue to pass the check point I don't see time as an issue.

A wand of water breathing and a portable hole filled with water thou... :thinking:

[Jeven]

VoodistMonk wrote:

Wikipedia states that the average human body is 1.75 cubic feet. So, 2.3 people can fit in a medium chest if it is 4 cubic feet.

The correct answer is probably just one.

If humans were super flexible and could be folded up and stacked like towels, yeah sure you could fit 2.3 in the volume ... but an awkward shape and limited flexibility get in the way.

For example get out that 1.75 cubit foot carton and try squeezing inside it! If you were shaped like a cube or were a boneless jelly-man it would be easy!

[Meirril]

In the long run, investing in Sense Motive, Bluff, Intimidation and Diplomacy will work better than trying to smuggle slaves in containers. Bribe guards, use charm and other short term magics to get you past guards you can't bribe. Dress yourself as a high ranking member of a major religious order and your slaves as minor members of said order, or a cart full of 'Heratics' being taken to a secret monastery for inquisition. Most guards aren't going to question the authenticity of an inquisitor, or why his prisoners are all manacled and gagged.

[Cevah]

Well Phone Booth Stuffing was a thing.

/cevah

[Azothath]

there are several lines of humorous progression;
1) yeah, this is a fantastic idea! Sure beats disguises, clapping them in irons and claiming they are criminals, forming them into an "acting troupe", or casting an illusion on their cage when anyone's about.
2) 2cu ft is probably a better figure considering physiology. You might want a few holes in the box. Tiny gelatinous cubes might be the best fit.
3) Enjoy the atonements or alignment shift, but then again the character is probably Evil to begin with.
4) you could just use the sewers like regular villains rather than UPS/DHL. Save on postage.
5) use a tarp and claim it cuts line of sight and line of effect so nobody can determine what's under the tarp.

[blahpers]

It's usually easier if you liquify the people first, though if you want to fill the lid's space you may need to pour them into a taller container then freeze them into a chest-interior-shaped solid.

[SomethingRandom]

Depends on how many of them are clowns.